Your first post sounded just like something I would have typed as it was very similar to my own experience. I learned on a Honda Rebel 250 in my course (2003) and loved it!
With more experience you will get increasingly more confident. In Calgary I cannot ride year round but about 6 months a year and it took me a good 4 years to get comfortable. It shocked me just how long it took, but there you go.
Best of luck and let us know how you get on!
Andrea
